Posts tagged: Burnaby

Nothing describes summer like spending time wandering around the numerous farmers’ markets in Metro Vancouver. Farmers’ markets are a great way for families to spend time together buying fresh, local produce directly from the vendors. You can stock up your entire kitchen with the wide variety of foods and more on display.

The Buzzer blog compiled 10 of these markets that are held in various communities across Metro Vancouver. The best part? These are all easily accessible by transit, so we listed some options on how to get there! You can use the TransLink trip planner to plan your route.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab that shopping bag and hop on board!

Which farmers’ market do you shop at? Let us know in the comments below!

Note: Market details such as times, dates and venue addresses are subject to change. Check each market’s website for exact details.

Bus Route Buzz is our series each service change that takes a deep dive into what’s coming to your area. In this edition, we take a look at improvements in Burnaby and New Westminster.

TransLink makes bus service changes every quarter (spring, summer, fall and winter), to reflect seasonal changes in demand and bring more service to where customers need it most. This winter, we’re improving bus service to reduce overcrowding and wait times, expand service hours, and increase reliability.

We know y’all are hitting the beach this summer, and we’re making sure you can get there!

Summer service changes are happening on June 26, meaning more trips to the beach and fun summer destinations and a lot of other great improvements. Many of these improvements are courtesy of the 10-Year Vision – bringing approximately $2 billion in investments in transit and transportation in Metro Vancouver.

Starting Monday, May 8, 2017 we’re temporarily changing the way you enter and exit Metrotown Station.

To accommodate the widening of the west walkway adjacent to the bus loop, the walkway will temporarily close.

There will be no access between the west crosswalk onto Central Boulevard to the main station entrance during the time of work.

The walkway is expected to reopen on Friday evening on May 12 2017.

We’ll be starting week-long construction on the walkway that when complete will be three metres wide — double the width of the existing walkway – allowing for safer customer access to and from Metrotown Station.

Follow the leader

Look for our friendly neighbourhood traffic flaggers to help guide you on your way!

We’ll also have additional staff near the bus loop and the station to ensure you can easily make connections to where you need to go.

In December, we introduced Bus Route Buzz to the blog; your one-stop-shop for bus service changes.

Service Changes are here again, just like clockwork, and so is Bus Route Buzz! In this series, we will continue to provide an in-depth look at maps, schedules and route changes as well as explainer videos with our in-house planning expert, #DenisThePlanner.

We have so many exciting changes this spring to increase frequency and efficiency across our bus network, particularly in Surrey, Langley, Richmond and the Tri-Cities.

These changes, additional service and added transit areas is have been made thanks to the funding secured for the 10-Year Vision.

You may have already had heard the news, but in case you missed it, the provincial government recently announced that they are matching the federal government’s $2.2 billion transit funding commitment dollar for dollar! This funding will improve and expand transit in Metro Vancouver. You can view the press release about the announcement here.

In the coming weeks, stay tuned to Bus Route Buzz right here on the Buzzer blog for a closer look at some of the changes coming to buses starting April 24.

Yes, you read that right. The first two of three brand new elevators will go into service at noon on March 24, 2017.

And hey, these aren’t just any old elevators! These two new speedy elevators are glass (and shiny!) which means you can see them coming and going. They will replace the single elevator that was at the station. Once the remaining elevator completes testing, commissioning and inspecting, it will also open. All elevators are expected to be open by May.

In addition to new elevators, the existing Compass readers will be replaced with permanent Compass fare gates.

This is a huge milestone for the station! The new central stationhouse will fully open, providing customers with a new permanent set of stairs (goodbye temporary staircase!), two more Compass Vending Machines, two elevators and a new entrance and exit out of the station.

With these upgrades, customers on the platform can take the elevator, new stairs or the emergency exit stairs on the west side of the station to access Central Boulevard.

Please note:

The Community Shuttle for passengers travelling with strollers will run until March 24 end of service. The HandyDART shuttle will run until March 31, an additional week after the first two elevators open.

Customers requiring the use of an elevator are advised to use the wider accessible pathway from the station by using the east crosswalk at the mall parkade entrance.

Remember to tap in and out at the fare gates to ensure you are charged the correct fare.

Please note that there is currently no escalator access at the station, only stairs and elevators. Four new escalators (two up and two down) will open at the west stationhouse in the summer.

We understand everyone will be excited to ride the new elevators! However, please be courteous and remember that there are customers who require the use of elevators and they will be getting used to the new station entrance and layout.

Not sure where to go? No problem! Our friendly Transit Security officers and SkyTrain attendants will all be on hand to help direct customers get where they need to go.

Visit our website for more information on the upgrades at Metrotown Station.